No. 3 Wichita State stays perfect with win over Loyola-Chicago

The Wichita State Shockers are the last undefeated team left in Division I
men's college basketball.

Top-ranked Syracuse was the only other unbeaten team heading into Wednesday's
action. The Orange, however, lost to Boston College in overtime.

Shortly after Syracuse was upset, the third-ranked Shockers posted their 28th
straight victory with an 88-74 decision over the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers.

Fred VanVleet had 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Wichita State
(28-0, 15-0 MVC), which had a chance to lock up the top spot in the Missouri
Valley Conference Tournament, needing a win and an Indiana State loss to
Evansville. The Sycamores prevented the Shockers from getting the top seed
with a 59-54 victory over the Purple Aces.

Cleanthony Early ended with 18 points to reach 1,000 for his Wichita State
career. Darius Carter and Ron Baker tallied 13 and 10 points, respectively,
for the Shockers, who became the 19th school to begin a season 28-0.

Milton Doyle had 18 points for the Ramblers (9-18, 4-11), who have lost three
in a row. Jeff White and Devon Turk donated 14 and 13 points, respectively in
defeat.

The Shockers jumped out to a 21-12 lead, but the Ramblers got within 25-19 on
Turk's three-point play with 8:24 left in the first half.

Wichita State responded with an 8-3 spurt to build an 11-point margin.
VanVleet made two free throws with 4:14 remaining to make it 33-22.

White scored five straight points moments later to pull Loyola-Chicago within
35-29. It was a 39-32 game at the half.

Wichita State started the second half on a 13-4 run that VanVleet capped with
a jumper for a 52-36 lead.

The Ramblers never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Wichita State now owns a 20-9 advantage in the all-time series ... VanVleet
was 6-of-6 from the field and made each of his 10 free throws ... The Shockers
went 31-of-34 from the foul line.